Opera singer's spouse charged with drug offences

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The husband of an Albanian Serb opera singer - who along with
his wife is facing deportation from Australia - has been charged
with drug offences.

South Australian police today confirmed 31-year-old Ergi Kola
was charged with two counts of producing cannabis after police
yesterday went to the Adelaide hills home he shared with his
29-year-old opera singer wife Valbona.

The Kolas were taken from their home in Fulham to the Baxter
Detention Centre after Department of Immigration officials had been
notified.

The department alleges their bridging visas had expired.

SA police allege Mr Kola was involved in the production of two
hydroponic cannabis crops. Police said one crop was discovered in
December 2003 and the other in August this year in the Adelaide
hills.

Mr Kola's wife - who had sung with South Australia Opera - also
was detained by police before she was handed to immigration
officials.

Police have released Mr Kola on bail into the custody of
immigration officials.

The Kolas have lived in Adelaide since fleeing the Kosovo
conflict in 1999. They have sought refugee status.

In August this year, Mrs Kola wrapped herself in an Australian
flag and sang We Are Australian on the steps of Immigration
Minister Amanda Vanstone's Adelaide electorate office.

She and stonemason husband Ergi were taking part in an
Australian Democrats protest against detention of refugees.

An immigration department spokeswoman today said Mr and Mrs Kola
had been taken to the Baxter Detention Centre because they were
illegal immigrants.

The couple had been found by the department and Refugee Review
Tribunal to have not met the conditions for refugees status, the
spokeswoman said.

The Kolas were on their third bridging visas, issued to allow
people to make arrangements before being deported.

The immigration department spokeswoman said that the bridging
visas had expired.

Refugee advocate David Winderlich said while he was not
surprised by the arrests, he was suspicious about the circumstances
surrounding them.

"They (the federal government) do this sort of thing
periodically," he said.

He said he believed the federal government may use the Kolas as
an example.

"My hunch would be that they are sending a signal that they are
being tough on refugees and people overstaying visas...

"Now they are being detained at great expense to the
taxpayer."

South Australian state Liberal MP Julian Stefani said he had
been in contact with the couple today.

"Mr Kola was asleep when I called, but I spoke to Mrs Kola and
she appeared to be calm and coping, although I don't know if that
is because she is on medication for a medical condition she has,"
Mr Stefani said.

He said he believed the couple had been set up and he would seek
answers from Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone as to when the
warrant for their arrest had been issued.

He said he also would demand an investigation by the SA Police
Chief Commissioner Mal Hyde and the state's ombudsman.

The couple's lawyer Michael Dadds is expected to visit them at
the Baxter centre Centre tomorrow.